In the Netherlands, purchasing power has, on average, hardly changed since the financial crisis. However, substantial differences can be observed between socio-economic groups. Pensioners were worse off because of cuts in pension benefits. This group was also much affected by the reductions in health spending. Employees fared best because of a fall in pension contributions. However, in return they had to accept an increase of the retirement age to 67. In addition, job insecurity has increased, in particular for older workers. Unemployment among them is on a rising trend, despite a general improvement in labour market conditions. Opinion polls suggest that the Dutch coalition government is in for a drubbing at the general election in March 2017. As Jean-Claude Juncker once famously remarked, 'We all know what we should do, but we don’t know how to get elected after we’ve done it’.
by Raymond VAN DER PUTTEN